Environmental Exposure Report

Oil Well Fires

Environmental Exposure Reports contain what is known today about specific events that took place during the Gulf War of 1990 and 1991. This particular Environmental Exposure Report focuses on the events associated with US troop exposure to oil fire smoke. This is an interim report, not a final report. We hope that you will read this and contact us with any information that would help us better understand the events reported here. With your help, we will be able to report more accurately on the events surrounding oil fire smoke exposures. Please contact my office to report any new information by calling:

1-800-472-6719

Bernard Rostker
Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses
Department of Defense

1998163-0000001

Last Update: October 13, 1998
Amended to correspond with distribution release date

Many veterans of the Gulf War have been experiencing a variety of physical symptoms, collectively called Gulf War illnesses. In response to veterans’ concerns, the Department of Defense (DoD) established a task force in June 1995, to investigate all possible causes of Gulf War illnesses. On November 12, 1996, the Investigation and Analysis Directorate (IAD) of the Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses assumed responsibility for these investigations and has continued to investigate oil well fires. Its interim report is contained here.

As part of the effort to inform the public about the progress of this effort, DoD is publishing on the Internet and elsewhere accounts related to possible causes of Gulf War illnesses among Gulf War veterans, along with whatever documentary evidence or personal testimony was used in compiling the accounts. The Environmental Exposure Report that follows is such an account.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. SUMMARY
 
II. METHODOLOGY
A. Data Collection and Evaluation
B. Toxicity Assessments
C. Exposure Analyses
D. Risk Characterization
 
III. CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
A. Discussion
B. Intelligence Prior to the Initiation of Hostilities
C. The Reported Use of Oil Well Fires to Distribute Chemical Agents
D. Physical Hazards Associated with Oil Wells
E. Preventing Exposure
F. The Nature and Extent of Destruction
 
IV. AIR POLLUTANTS FROM OIL FIRES
A. Oil Well Fires Combustion Products
B. Smoke Plume Characteristics
C. Other Factors Contributing to Atmospheric Contamination
D. US and International Response
 
V. HEALTH EFFECTS ASSESSMENT
A. Background
B. Contaminant Levels
C. Background Sources of Contaminants
D. Possible Health Effects of Oil Fires
E. Health Effects Associated with Short-term, Intense Exposures
F. Ongoing and Planned Health Effects Investigations
 
VI. HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT
A. Background
B. Discussion
C. USAEHA Health Risk Assessment
D. USACHPPM Health Risk Assessment
 
VII. LESSONS LEARNED
A. Personal Protective Equipment
B. Response to Environmental Terrorism
C. Risk Assessment
D. Monitoring/Sampling Issues

VIII. CONCLUSIONS

TAB A - Acronym Listing/Glossary

TAB B - Bibliography

TAB C - Fighting the Oil Well Fires

TAB D - Geography

TAB E - Climate

TAB F - Demography of Kuwait

TAB G - Kuwait Oil Industry

TAB H - DoD Guidance on Preventing and Reducing Exposures to Oil Fire Smoke

TAB I - Veteran Interview Outline

TAB J - Plume Configurations

END NOTES


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